Time to bump up Snickers' prey size or not?

[RichsBallPythons]

I would switch her off of mice and on to rats. Rats have a better nutritional content, among other things.

I generally do 15% of the snakes body weight. So if my snake weighs 1000grams, I will feed a rat around 150grams. For snakes under 2 years old, I do it every 4-5 days. Over that, I do every 7 days.

If you don't have one, I suggest getting a cheap dietary scale. Mine was 10$ at walmart in the food gadgets aisle. Couldn't live without it, now that I have it.

Says Who? No study has ever been done to say one is better than the other. Mice are closer related to ASF than the Norway rats we feed.

And the 15% rule only pertains to yearlings. No reason to ever feed anything over 100g per meal once a week. This WILL lead to an obese snake by time their 4 years old.

OP, feed what snake wants, if one mouse isnt enough, you can try a wean rat which is about 45g in size or give 2 mice per week. Its all about what works for you and what the snake eats.

[VEXER19]

Says Who? No study has ever been done to say one is better than the other. Mice are closer related to ASF than the Norway rats we feed.

And the 15% rule only pertains to yearlings. No reason to ever feed anything over 100g per meal once a week. This WILL lead to an obese snake by time their 4 years old.

OP, feed what snake wants, if one mouse isnt enough, you can try a wean rat which is about 45g in size or give 2 mice per week. Its all about what works for you and what the snake eats.

Just wanted to say that every time I see your posts Rich I have to read them. I've learned a lot just from following your comments. Thanks for all helpful knowledge all the time.

[SpencerShanks]

Alright, now I'm having to do some thinking. Need some more experienced opinions on this.

2010 Male, been in my possession nearly all his life. 380 grams, can't get a length measurement. Been eating adult mice for the last few months. (I was planning on bumping him up after he finishes this last one off, even before this.) The mice he's been eating weigh in at around 15 grams each. I thought he looked slim at the worst. Now I guess he may (or may not) be under weight. There is a slightly visible bulge when he eats, but only for the first couple inches of his body.

This is the only full body shot I have of him right now.


Underweight or no? Parents think I'm trying to fatten him up, when really I just want him to get a good sized meal haha.

Sorry about the thread hijack. Figure I may as well do it now at the same time as someone else.

[RichsBallPythons]

Hes fine, they all grow and different rates.

Mice eaters do grow slower due to lower fat in mice, but nothing wrong with that. At 380g a meal consisting of 45g per feeding every 4-5 days will help bump him into a growth spurt.

[VEXER19]

Adult mice should weigh more than 15g just IMO but I'm sure it could vary. I would check your scale cause he doesn't look as thin as I thought he would.

[RichsBallPythons]

adult mice are 20-30g and retired breeder mice are 31-50g.

15g mice is what i call a small adult.

[SpencerShanks]

Alright, my fears have been subdued haha. If it clarifies anything, he's been eating the frozen "Small Adult Mice" from Arctic Mice. Well it's a good thing he's not underweight then. I've personally got no problem with him being a bit on the small side, he's a pet, not a breeding machine. Soon after I first got him I did try feeding him every 4 days, but when my parents found out they threw a fit haha. Once I have a source of income my snakes will be fed a wee bit more.

[VEXER19]

adult mice are 20-30g and retired breeder mice are 31-50g.

15g mice is what i call a small adult.

Oh ok. All mine weigh about 20-25g. So that's where I was getting that from. Thanks again Rich.

[VEXER19]

Alright, my fears have been subdued haha. If it clarifies anything, he's been eating the frozen "Small Adult Mice" from Arctic Mice. Well it's a good thing he's not underweight then. I've personally got no problem with him being a bit on the small side, he's a pet, not a breeding machine. Soon after I first got him I did try feeding him every 4 days, but when my parents found out they threw a fit haha. Once I have a source of income my snakes will be fed a wee bit more.

Well he looks healthy but I would feed him 2 mice from now on if you can manage that with your folks. Still cheaper thn a dog lol.

[RichsBallPythons]

Arctic Mice is crap. Especially when buying from petstores.

When they unload the trucks, boxes sit till their opened and put away. Ive had customers tell me how they buy mice from petco and their semi hard/soft. This is dangerous for your snakes gut.